Things to do at Dalby Forest

Dalby Forest Visitor Centre On the 2nd of April 2007 the new eco-friendly visitor centre officially opened. This building is one of the Forestry Commission’s first visitor centres with sustainability as its main focus and is situated along the forest drive just beyond the forest village of Low Dalby. Facilities within the centre include an information desk, Forestry Commission shop, exhibition area with hand’s on interactive displays, conference meeting room, external and internal toilets and Treetops Restaurant with terrace serving a variety of home cooked meals and snacks. Maps and information booklets about the various walking and cycling trails within the forest are available from the Visitor Centre Wheelchairs and electric buggies are available for use from the Visitor Centre.

Cycling There are waymarked mountain bike routes graded from green (easy) to black (severe) for more experienced cyclists. Dixon’s Hollow, a cycle skills area is located near Adderstone Field. Purple Mountain Bike Centre, www.purplemountain.co.uk, provides bike hire, maintenance and a bike wash facilities in Dalby Forest. Horse Riding Horse riders are welcome to ride in Forestry Commission freehold woodlands on forest roads and bridleways. Orienteering Orienteering is a fun sport that anyone can take part in and involves map reading to navigate between marked posts. The new course in Dalby at Adderstone was opened in April 2008 and maps are available from the Visitor Centre at a cost of £2.50.

Dog Walkers
Dogs and their owners are welcome to walk in Forestry Commission woods. Dog walkers have the freedom to roam throughout the forest with the only exception being play areas for children. Dog watering points at the Visitor Centre and Courtyard provide welcome relief.

Please note that the forest is unlike a town park and we do not provide dog bins. We ask visiting dog walkers to help keep the forest path network and picnic sites free of dog mess by either bagging the waste and taking it home with you, or by flicking the poo off the path and into the undergrowth.

Go Ape
Go Ape high wire forest adventure can be found at Dalby Forest. For further information visit www.goape.co.uk

Astronomy
Scarborough and Ryedale Astronomical Society operate the astronomical observatories outside Dalby Forest Visitor Centre. They run public viewing nights throughout the year on the first Friday of every month from 8pm (excluding June, July and August).

Events
The Recreation Rangers run a programme of fun events throughout the year, please note that some events are very popular and need to be booked in advance. For further information check the website at www.forestry.gov.uk/yorkshireandthehumber and the list of events can be viewed under Things to do and Events.

Dalby Courtyard
Dalby Courtyard is the home to a variety of craft workshop units, offices and a cafe and bike hire centre.

Further information can be obtained from the following addresses: Dalby Forest Visitor Centre Low Dalby, Pickering, North Yorkshire YO18 7LT Tel: 01751 460295 Open daily 10am – 4.00pm Forestry Commission North York Moors Outgang Road, Pickering, North Yorkshire, YO18 7EL Tel: 01751 472771 Fax: 01751 474503 E-mail enquiries: nym@forestry.gov.uk See also www.forestry.gov.uk/dalbyforest